The Focus was dogged HARD by the world for MFT, maybe some rattles, and the DCT blowing up, including lashings from the infamous Consumer Reports. The '13 is very improved in those respects (including MFT that magazines still bash) however the damage is done, and judging by what people on here experienced, I think it is well deserved. Most people will prefer a bland econobox with an ancient but reliable transmission over the risky DCT, and thats the end of that. It will take until the end of this Focus's generation for Ford to gain some reputation back for reliability. I dont blame anyone for skipping this car worried about the DCT blowing up.

Also, bear in mind that it is damn near impossible to topple the sales leaders from Japan. they could slap a Civic badge on a dump truck and people would buy them in droves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arco-Zakus

One thing I think almost any car owner would call "better" is the Corolla's reliability record compared to the new Focus. Some of the old technology in the Corolla (port FI, old auto trans and suspension designs, etc.) probably has a lot to do with that. As much as I want to buy a new 2013 Focus based on what I've read about its performance and handling, I'm equally put off by all the problems many owners of the 2012s have been experiencing. I sure hope the 2013s start to show a dramatic improvement. If I have to wait too much longer for Ford to get it right, the Corolla could even start to look "better" to me. (I hope not.)

The Focus was dogged HARD by the world for MFT, maybe some rattles, and the DCT blowing up, including lashings from the infamous Consumer Reports. The '13 is very improved in those respects (including MFT that magazines still bash) however the damage is done, and judging by what people on here experienced, I think it is well deserved. Most people will prefer a bland econobox with an ancient but reliable transmission over the risky DCT, and thats the end of that. It will take until the end of this Focus's generation for Ford to gain some reputation back for reliability. I dont blame anyone for skipping this car worried about the DCT blowing up.

Also, bear in mind that it is damn near impossible to topple the sales leaders from Japan. they could slap a Civic badge on a dump truck and people would buy them in droves.

Be a man and get the manual Focus. No transmission problems.

Please show where there was ANY case of a customers Focus DCT "blowing up" as you state. Even for those that have had issues, not once was it due to the transmission having any problems, it was either the clutch actuators or clutch slippage (chatter) due to faulty leaking seals.... nothing more (the clutch is seperate from the transmission, just like a covential manual) Even then, the clutches didn't "blow up" as you suggest. Yes, it's still a "black eye" for Ford, but, lets not blow things out of proportion here... I'd still choose the PS6DCT anyday over the old tech MTX75 manual transmission. So would many others.

Please show where there was ANY case of a customers Focus DCT "blowing up" as you state. Even for those that have had issues, not once was it due to the transmission having any problems, it was either the clutch actuators or clutch slippage (chatter) due to faulty leaking seals.... nothing more (the clutch is seperate from the transmission, just like a covential manual) Even then, the clutches didn't "blow up" as you suggest. Yes, it's still a "black eye" for Ford, but, lets not blow things out of proportion here... I'd still choose the PS6DCT anyday over the old tech MTX75 manual transmission. So would many others.

Mostly agreed. However I don't think all cases of slippage, chatter, shuddering etc. are due to leaky seals. I had slippage and shudder, the latter of which came and went a couple times, and I was told I did not have leaky seals. I think the software itself 'learns' itself into a box in some cases and an update (e.g. 132B37) or just some hard driving fixes most of those cases.

Mostly agreed. However I don't think all cases of slippage, chatter, shuddering etc. are due to leaky seals. I had slippage and shudder, the latter of which came and went a couple times, and I was told I did not have leaky seals. I think the software itself 'learns' itself into a box in some cases and an update (e.g. 132B37) or just some hard driving fixes most of those cases.

Good catch Kam!, I forgot about a lot of those cases where doing the "hard reset" with the battery or doing the series of hard launches to seem to "reboot" the fuzzy logic of the TCU.

The Cruze is a relatively new player to the game, compared to the other models like the Civic the Focus, etc. Those models have endured for decades, it will be very interesting to see how long the Cruze lasts as a model. The car it replaced, the Cobalt, didn't even last very long. Month to month the Cruze may periodically edge out the Focus, but how long it does in the long term....like the Civic, that's the real test.

I happened to get a Cruze (as well as an Elantra) during my holiday travels. Both of them reassured me of my choice of the Focus. I did see a number of other Cruzes on the rental lot, but didn't spot a Focus. (A few years back, I did get a Focus from the same agency.)

I happened to get a Cruze (as well as an Elantra) during my holiday travels. Both of them reassured me of my choice of the Focus. I did see a number of other Cruzes on the rental lot, but didn't spot a Focus. (A few years back, I did get a Focus from the same agency.)

I have no idea where those sale figures came from, but it would seem logical to me that since we're talking unit sales, the numbers shouldn't exclude one type of sales channel versus another. Then again, that's my logic...for what that's worth.

I haven't driven the Cruze and to be real honest, it was never even a consideration when I bought my Focus in late November. The only serious considerations were the Jetta TDI, Mazda3 with Skyactiv, Buick Verano and Nissan Altima. Even though all these cars are roughly in the same class/pricing category, to me the Cruze just doesn't seem to measure up. From appearances alone, the Cruze didn't even strike me as a car worth considering. I realize of course this is a personal thing and for some, the Focus may appear to be too boy racer...wanna be WRC....whatever. However if I had to choose a word to describe the Cruze it would be: Bland.

If I had not made up my mind long ago to not buy a GM product for political reasons (the bailout), this would sway my decision. I prefer to wash my cars myself. I also prefer any excitement be from driving, not escaping from, the car.

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